Chania, or "Venice of the East", is the second biggest city in Crete, built on the site of old Kydonia. One the most picturesque cities in Greece, Chania oozes with artistic influences of the various cultures which have passed through it. Historical buildings have been renovated and now house museums and cultural centres, for example, the former Venetian Monastery of Saint Francis now hosts the Archaeological Museum of Chania.

Talking the rapid transit trains in Singapore is not only better for the environment, but it also allows you to experience Singapore a little bit more like a local. Grab an EZ-Link card or buy a Singapore Tourist Pass and use the MRT, buses, and your feet to explore the city. With the help of public transportation you can see more of Singapore in one day than most visitors can fit into a week. Start your tour at HarbourFront. Have breakfast, spend some time strolling along the water and enjoying the morning sun before you embark on your journey on the Yellow Line. Stop at Labrador Park, Kent Ridge Park, or Haw Par Villa. Switch to the Green Line and make a stop at Chinese Garden with picturesque pagodas, statues, bridges and plants. You can spend the afternoon here, wandering between the linked islands on Jurong Lake. Still on the Green Line, Tiong Bahru is great for lunch. For more parks, head to Pasir Ris, where you can cycle, ride horses and kids can have fun at a playground. In the evening, switch to the Purple Line to get to Chinatown. Colourful architecture, heritage temples and traditional eateries that serve dim sum and yum cha wait for you here. You can finish your day of exploration by taking the Blue Line to Bayfront, next to the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark. Have a drink with a panoramic view of the bay at sunset and enjoy the laser light show.

Singapore does not only offer big city life and urban activities, but also spectacular stretches of pristine nature, especially in the north west, at the country's border with Malaysia. The Sungei Buloh Reserve is a great place to spot a variety of migratory bird species as well as lizards and other exotic animals. You can spend the whole day exploring the hiking trails at this vast mangrove reserve.

Though it was once a busy shipyard where European immigrants settled after coming in search of work, this colourful and vibrant neighbourhood has developed into a fashionable centre for trendy galleries and boutiques. Tourists flock here to snap a shot of the colourful Caminito, where painted metal shacks reflect the area's past, and to pay a visit to one of football's most legendary stadiums.